Lovely One

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism. 

Supreme Courts nominees are publicly questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee during their confirmation hearing. This is an opportunity for senators to learn more about a nominee’s experience and philosophy. In her memoir, Jackson recalls her own confirmation hearing, during which she was glad to have the support of her family, friends, and mentors as she faced challenging questions from the Committee.

In the US, a district court is part of the federal court system. District courts hear both civil and criminal cases. In Lovely One, Jackson discusses her experience working in district courts, first as law clerk to Judge Saris and later as a judge on the district court of Washington, DC.

In the United States, law clerks are lawyers who support judges by helping them with case management, writing and research, and administrative work. Jackson recounts her experiences clerking for two judges before being encouraged to apply for a Supreme Court clerkship. She describes her clerkship with Justice Breyer as a demanding but invaluable experience that helped set her on the path to becoming a Supreme Court justice herself.